Kate Garraway reveals she hopes husband Derek Draper can attend the NTAs with her after nomination

Kate Garraway has revealed she is hoping her husband Derek Draper can attend the National Television Awards next month, as he continues his lengthy recovery from Covid.

The presenter, 53, has been nominated for Best Authored Documentary for her ITV programme Finding Derek depicting his battle with the virus, and said she is already ‘figuring out the logistics’ so he could join her at the ceremony.

Speaking on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain after her nomination, Kate said it would be ‘lovely’ to have her husband at her side during the show, as he continues to recover at home after contracting coronavirus in March 2020.

During the show, Kate’s co-host Charlotte Hawkins acknowledged her nomination, saying: ‘You’ve obviously got experience of dealing with the aftermath of coronavirus and what that can mean to Derek and the family.

‘And congratulations to you because your authored documentary Kate Garraway: Finding Derek has been shortlisted for a National Television Award, so very well done to that.’

A visibly emotional Kate then said: ‘I didn’t know until I read the papers this morning. It’s wonderful for the production company and for Derek.

‘I was just looking and the ceremony – is it the 9th September? I was just thinking, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Derek was well enough to come. Wouldn’t it be wonderful.

‘I was trying to look at the dates and work out the logistics of how that might work.

‘There’s some brilliant people in the category, there’s some brilliant documentaries, I don’t think for the moment we’ll win. But it would be lovely for him to be there.’

Kate’s husband Derek was released from the hospital in March this year after being first diagnosed in March 2020.  

The virus wreaked havoc throughout his entire body, resulting in kidney failure, liver and pancreatic damage. 

On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs. 

He is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country. The former lobbyist continues to recover from the illness at their London home. 

It comes after last week Kate admitted she feels like she ‘failed’ her children as she struggled to juggle homeschooling and looking after Derek as he recovered from Covid.

The star – who shares children Darcey, 15, and Billy, 12, with Derek, 53, – said she found it ‘very challenging’ due to dealing with her ‘very specific set of circumstances’ at the time.

During a chat about the recent A-Level results on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain, she said: ‘We all know that it’s been almost impossible for youngsters to deal with this.

‘I know that I have frankly failed my children in supporting them in their homeschooling.

‘I know I had very specific set of circumstances going on for the bulk of the time, but I found it very difficult to get online and help them to work their way through the system. 

‘And, you know, it was very, very challenging.’

Kate has been by her husband Derek’s side during his recovery from coronavirus after he contracted the illness last March which left him hospitalised.

Last week it was revealed that she has found his return from hospital this year ‘bittersweet’, according to close friend and television presenter Clare Nasir, 51.

She said that Kate ‘can never switch off from what’s happening’ and has a lot on her plate being a presenter, mother, carer and wife. 

Kate recently enjoyed her first night out since Derek became seriously unwell as she attended the West End opening of Wonderville at the Palace Theatre.   

Clare told Closer: ‘Kate has been incredible throughout this – even more so since Derek has been home. She now basically does four jobs – presenter, mum, wife and carer. 

‘She’s on the go all the time, and has been physically and mentally pushed to the extreme this last year and a half. So a chance to go out to the theatre – something she and the kids love – was wonderful for her.

‘However, it was bittersweet, as Kate can never switch off from what’s happening. I know she would have had a hotline to the house at all times and her focus would have been on Derek.’

A representative for Kate has been contacted by MailOnline for a comment. 

Speaking recently at the West End event, Kate said: ‘It’s our first time out since February 2020 so we are really excited, and this is a date that has sprung up because it was going to happen a few weeks ago and then it didn’t happen and then we just thought, ‘Let’s go for it’ – so very exciting.

‘It was very strange leaving him tonight to come out because he is a big fan of magic, but it is not possible at the moment so we just said next time and see him when we get back.’